Lowrance HDS 8 w/LSS1

[mrgoodwrench]

Any one had experience with this unit. Thinking about getting it this spring. Is it worth the money or should I look at another brand.

Thx for any input.

[Hawker]

Any one had experience with this unit. Thinking about getting it this spring. Is it worth the money or should I look at another brand.

Thx for any input.

In the end, the choice will be and is entirely up to you. I've been running an LCX-113 CHD (10") for the past year and a half trouble free and have loved the unit and what it can do, that is until I've fished the past four days for Stripers on Lake Ouachita in Arkansas with a friend who has the new 10" HDS with "all" and I do mean "all" the trimmings! I've got to get me one of these!!! The detail and information on screen is amazing, and the clarity is truly profound!! Yeah, Lowrance has had a few problems, maybe will have a few more, but I'm gonna stick with the outfit that has treated me the best over the years, and yes, I have tried others. Following are a few screen shots we took while playing around looking for stripers, and just playing around with the HDS.

[VaGuy]

Any one had experience with this unit. Thinking about getting it this spring. Is it worth the money or should I look at another brand.

Thx for any input.

This is very impressive hardware priced for us recreational fisherman.
To me is is certainly worth the cost. Here is my HDS8 with the LSS-1
showing a rock pile on sonar and down scan. I have not come across
anything to exciting on the bottom so far and as winter is here it's
just to cold now so all will have to wait till next Spring.


http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss35/LateSummer/rockpile2.png

[Tim Ellis]

Is it worth the money or should I look at another brand.

Thx for any input.

Since you asked about another brand you might want to compare the options on a Humminbird 997 which are on sale right now for $1,499 at Cabelas and no need to buy additional electronics at $599 to get side imaging and with a free software upgrade in January will also have down imaging. Add in the quality and customer service backing the birds it was a no brainer for me to switch from Lowrance.

[I Fish GS]

I have used lowrances for years. For the last 2 years I ran a bird SI but just for the SI to me the 2d sonar and chart on lowrance is better, but with an update coming out to make birds sonar more like low. and lake master coming out with maps for birds it might be a wash between the two.
I sold my bird for $800 and got LSS-1 for $550 since I alread had HDS it was cheaper.

Brian

[Rick Z]

Yes, both Hummingbird and Lowrance make great units, I personally have seen both in operation and I am going to go with the Lowrance. The Lowance structure scan has 6 crystals in the unit to view directly under the boat as well as the side in addition has the distance from the boat on the side scan so that you can put in a way point directly to that spot if you see something like a fish...bait ...or rock pile..or better yet bait fish with bigger fish around them!!

[TMike]

Here are a few SI images that I have taken to give a comparison between units.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/SpotCountrysonar/bird2-1.jpg

Crappie in a tree.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/SpotCountrysonar/si6-1.jpg

Showing the difference of fish near bottom and suspended fish.

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/SpotCountrysonar/si23.jpg

School of fish

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/SpotCountrysonar/bird2.png

[yarcraft91]

School of fish

http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o314/TritonMike/SpotCountrysonar/bird2.png

Nice images. I notice that in the last one, the voltage display says "9.8V". Is it common to see voltages in that range on your readout? Seems very low- wondering why.

[TMike]

Nice images. I notice that in the last one, the voltage display says "9.8V". Is it common to see voltages in that range on your readout? Seems very low- wondering why.

Actually I never paid attention to it till you mentioned it. I fish my batteries hard so maybe that was at the end of the day??? To be honest I don't have a clue why that number is what it is.. But I never have an issue running my graphs

[yarcraft91]

Hopefully, your HDS will work well for a long time. If it ever starts to misbehave, just know that the specified operating voltage is 10-18 volts- looks like you may be pushing the lower edge of that envelope. The older LCX- and LMS-series devices can act strangely at low operating voltages.

[TMike]

Hopefully, your HDS will work well for a long time. If it ever starts to misbehave, just know that the specified operating voltage is 10-18 volts- looks like you may be pushing the lower edge of that envelope. The older LCX- and LMS-series devices can act strangely at low operating voltages.

yatcraft, One problem. Those images aren't HDS :). Thats a 997SI Humminbird image.

[yarcraft91]

yatcraft, One problem. Those images aren't HDS :). Thats a 997SI Humminbird image.

Oh- never mind. :o

Guess you can tell I haven't spent any time around an HDS or HB SI unit, huh?

9.8V is also below the minimum specified voltage for your 997cSI

[Dale Gilbert]

I just had a limited amount of time with my HDS 8 and a LSS-1 before ice up, but I was very impressed with the LSS-1 system.

I think one of the advantages of the Lowrance system is the downscan option along with the StructureScan view -- it really makes it easy to understand and see what is actually down there.

I did some sonar logs and some screen capture shots -- incredible detail of underwater structure.

If you haven't -- you can go on the Lowrance website and see more screen shots -- actual screen images that show what the unit is capable of.

I can hardly wait for spring. I have mine set up with the ethernet cables so I can view it on any unit in the boat, which is also a very nice feature (I have an HDS 10 on the bow, and 2 HDS 8's on the console) It required me to also use the expansion port hub but I sure like what I can do now.